Symbols

“Who do you say I am?”

Mk. 8.29 NIV

Twice in the space of a few hours I smiled to myself whilst in heavy traffic. I was stationary at a junction and I noticed a familiar bumper sticker on the car boot or trunk, in front of me. It was a silver Christian fish but with a twist. The addition of two little feet had transformed the fish into a reptile and the word Darwin was inscribed in its body. On my return journey, as if in a conspiracy I saw the same sticker on another car, but this time the fish, now a reptile, had four little feet and the inscribed word was Evolve. Perhaps I need to get out more, but this visual humour with its serious message, was new to me. I began to think about the changing nature of our symbols and their adaptation to modern times; particularly as one of our most symbolised Christian events, Holy Week, is upon us.

I have always been fascinated by the universality of many of our popular symbols and logos. The rainbow is an excellent example, having a diverse and a historical richness that transcends any particular culture or history. Recognised as the post-flood symbol of God’s promise to humanity, it also represents our bodies core energy through the seven chakras as well as being the global symbol for our LGBTI community. Our ability to recast old images and symbols that have spanned centuries, even millennia, into contemporary meaningfulness, is a testament to our inventiveness and our need for continuity. This adaptability extends to our Church traditions and religious practices.

Conversions to Christianity have been more successful when the indigenous values and religious traditions of non Roman cultures, have been partly absorbed by the younger faith. This has produced a reworked and contemporary religion that contains popular elements of the pre Christian ones. Many of the beliefs and traditions of modern Christianity have roots in other eras before Christ and in non-European cultures. The history of this planet’s crucified and resurrected saviours is alleged to include at least a dozen; with Chrishna of India in 1200 A.D, the Hindu Sakia in 600 B.C, Hesus of the Celtic Druids, in 834 B.C, and Quexalcote of Mexico in 587 B.C. to name a few. I have always been fascinated by Hebrews chapter 7 that refers to Christ as a priest of the order of Melchizedek. Were there others? Beliefs in the virgin birth, the Trinity, the Eucharist, the use of anointing oil, water baptism and even the pentecostal practice of speaking in tongues are not unique to Christianity. They are present in other non Christian religions and have a universal symbolism that seems to be enshrined in our genes as human beings. They transcend specific religious ownership and may be an indicator of the holiness of the spirit within us all.

Like Christmas, Easter began as a pre Christian festival and was named after the Anglo-Saxon deity; Eastre or Ostara. This Goddess of the Dawn or Light Bringer, was a symbol of the rebirth or resurrection of nature after the death of winter. She represented earth’s fertility and creation generally. Our Christianised understanding of Easter maintains these traditions whilst encouraging a deeper reverence for the events portrayed in Holy Week. Further more, a conscious connectedness to our pre-Christian past can enhance our beliefs and reflect our commonality with the rich diversity of ethnicities, cultures, histories and the religious mix of our planet. In choosing to maintain our church traditions as uniquely reflecting God’s intent, we can still follow through our commitment to love God with all our hearts and our neighbours as ourselves, wherever they are resident and whatever their beliefs. Christ promised abundant life, free of dogma and without qualification

…that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities, principalities and powers in the heavenly sphere. This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in the person of Christ Jesus our Lord. In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness, courage and confidence, of free access an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear. Eph. 3:10-12 Amplified Version Edited

May the Holy Spirit continue to fill your life with meanings for symbols that inspire.

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